The flavonoid rutin improves kidney and heart structure and function in an adenine-induced rat model of chronic kidney disease

Many foods contain rutin, a flavonoid with many health benefits. Here we tested rutin to reverse chronic kidney disease (CKD) and associated cardiovascular disease, using an established rodent model with adenine diet (0.25%) over 16 weeks. Rutin was added to the diet for the final 8 weeks. We measured kidney function (blood urea nitrogen/BUN, plasma creatinine/PCr, plasma uric acid, proteinuria); kidney structure (tubular damage, fibrosis, inflammation); cardiovascular function and structure (blood pressure, left ventricular stiffness, vascular responses, echocardiography, histology); and biomarkers for oxidative stress (HO-1), inflammation (PLA-2, TNF-α) and fibrosis (TGF-β). Adenine diet increased CKD characteristics (tubulointerstitial atrophy and fibrosis, inflammation, proteinuria, BUN, PCr, uric acid) and CKD-associated cardiovascular disease. Rutin improved kidney and heart structure and function, decreased HO-1 and PLA-2 expression, but did not reduce TGF-β or TNF-α. Decreased expression of HO-1 and PLA-2 appears to be a mechanistic pathway for reno- and cardioprotection.